Big, Dumb, heavy lift boosters.

>>>>Don't the Russians and Sea-Launch already have this capability? I take
>>>>
> this
> to be so from the statements that the launch of Soyuz only costs $ 4
> million
> or so.>>>
>
> With regards to sea launch, what sort of size range of booster, can be
> practically launched rfrom sea? Could we launch a Saturn-V from a sea
> platform?

That was the BDB idea. You build a BIG rocket, float it in the
sea and launch a 100+ tonnes or so into orbit using really low
tech techniques. You get lousy mass ratios, but then who cares?
Provided you stick to hydrocarbon fuels, Fuel is the cheap bit...

There's a fluffy report at: http://www.ota.nap.edu/pdf/data/1989/8904.PDF

which says lots of stuff, along the lines of 'it might work' and
'many contractors who make lots of money off the existing systems
aren't keen on it' and people who have looked at it get comments
like: 'your work did nothing to extend the state of the art'.

As if trying to cut costs doesn't extend the state of the art????

Anyway do a google search using terms like 'big dumb booster'
and 'minimum cost' and you'll probably find it.

> Tony

civilization?"